Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-05
AyrRGrNIA BIRMINGHAM.
The GicnmOre iron-Mines NO" Being
developed Near the white Sui
phur Springs. w. Va.
" HIIL DULFHIh DFhINuoi
June 4, 1887.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l

June 4, 1887.
Among the many mines recently de-
veloped, perhaps the most remarkable
are the Glenmore mines, near the sum-
NIT of the Alleghanies, close to the
White Sulphur Springs. The ore-vein
lies on both sides Of a ridge, running
from near that point to Anthony's
creek, a distance of some eight or ten
miles, through Therapeutics of Messrs.
Grant and Montague.
The formation is remarkable one,
as instead of being a limorite, like the
other silurian ores found in this region,
the ore at this point is a remarkably
fine and well-defned sesquioxide orred
hematite, Analysing 81 per cent. OF
metallic iron, and showing a very small
proportion of phospborus-in fact, a
Ressemer ore. The presence of ore in
this ridge has been known locally for
some time, but there was no knowledge
that it was of such superior quality, it
having been supposed to be similar to
the other deposits of limonite found
SO profusely in other parts Of Virginia
ala IN Alabama.
Cute recent exploration also leads
to the be ief that this vein extends
across Anthony's creek and continues
for some fifteen or twenty miles further
in a northeasterly direction.
1t is probable that this new field will
he rapidly developed, as some promi-
nent capitalists have become satisfied
not only of its quality bnt its quantity.
We understand that the Messrs. Carne-
gle, OF Pittsburgh, have endeayored to
purchase it outright, but the owners
wish to retain an interest in it them
selves.
There are all the elements in this
neighborhood for large manufacturing
centre. This section is so situated that
n railroad can be located sixty miles up
the Greenbrier river, with the Goals on
one side and the ores and hmestOnes
on the other in other words, this river
follows the escarpment of the carbon
ferrous strata where they lap or the
devonian and silurian.
Such d line would be in direct line
to Pittsburgh, connecting with Senator
Davis's line, now at the northern slope
of Cheat mountain. At the point where
tie ore has been fully exposed, near the
White Sulphur Springs, it is within six
miles of the Newport-Aews and Missis-
sissippi-Nalley railway by an easy grade.
We see in this all the elements OF
Virginia Birmingham. The great al
vantages claimed by Birmingham apd
vicinity is the fact that ores, coal, and
limestone are found within compare
lively small areas, and upon this basis
a city of more than 30, 900 inhabitants,
with its millions of investments, has
sprung up within the last few years.
Such progress follows only in the natu
raj order of affairs and was plainly
forosecn, since railway charges form
such a large proportion OF our cost of
manufacture. But mere we have no
less than 100 square miles with ilenti'
cally the same ores and conditions sur
rounding Birmingham, to which It is
inferior in nothing, but superior i'll that
certainly one large deposit OF Bessamrr
ore has been found, and that the Goals
(Which are the celebrated New-hiver
coking measuresJ are vastly superior to
those of Alabama, and can be worked
more cheaply, since the area is greater
and the seams practically horizontal.
One short line Of railway would put
this whole territory in direct communi-
cation with Pittsburgh and with the
Ohio river-to which there is all down
grade and with the Atlantic seaboard.